Broncos' FA Deal With OT Mike McGlinchey: Contract Details & Grade

It's time to break down Mike McGlinchey's new contract with the Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos have been more active in free agency than in some time, having made multiple moves early in the 'legal tampering' period.

I'm going to examine the contract breakdown for each player as the details are revealed. Let's look at the deal for right tackle Mike McGlinchey.

Contract Details

Summary: Five years, $87.5M, $35M fully guaranteed.

Breakdown

• 2023: $17.5M signing bonus, $2.5M base salary (fully guaranteed).
• 2024: $15M base salary (fully guaranteed).
• 2025: $17.5M base salary (injury-only guaranteed, becomes fully guaranteed on March 19, 2024).
• 2026: $16.99M base salary, $510K per-game roster bonus.
• 2027: $16.99M base salary, $510K per-game roster bonus.

Cap charges: $6M in 2023, $18.5M in 2024, $21M in 2025, 2026, and 2027.

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Gut Reaction

For practical purposes, this is a three-year commitment for the Broncos. Because McGlinchey's 2025 salary vests to full guarantee in 2024, the Broncos will have him on the roster unless they trade him (which the contract structures allows the team to do as early as 2024).

As for where the contract stands among other offensive tackles, McGlinchey didn't re-set the market, though he did come in close to the top right tackles. He didn't reach the level that Ryan Ramczyk set, nor that of Jawaan Taylor (though in Taylor's case, the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly going to move him to left tackle).

But one thing is clear: McGlinchey is a true 'prize signing' by GM George Paton. Most long-term deals Paton has handed out were of the 'two years then we'll see' variety, which was even the case with Randy Gregory's five-year deal.

For McGlinchey, though, the practical three-year commitment makes this a roll of the dice. I am concerned about McGlinchey as a pass protector, but he has the chance to prove me wrong there.

On another note, Broncos' left tackle Garett Bolles could be on notice. He enters the final year of his deal in 2024, and with him, McGlinchey, and Powers all set to have higher cap charges in 2024, the Broncos might part ways with Bolles.

But as for McGlinchey, here's hoping this works out better than Ja'Wuan James.

Contract Grade: C+

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